A trial scheme to make it more affordable for Oxfordshire residents to install solar panels and battery storage has hit the century mark.

Last month, Oxfordshire County Council, and its partners SMS and Metis carried out their hundredth installation as part of their Energy Saver App project, backed by government funding.

All the householders involved had registered their interest in the solar trial after downloading the energy saver app, which was launched a year ago.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “These installations are now generating significant clean electricity for Oxfordshire.

“They are helping to provide flexibility, enabling our residents to benefit from cheaper tariffs. They have created savings of around £300 a year for the 100 households who have taken part.”

Through the scheme, householders pay £40 a month for the equipment, rather than having to pay thousands of pounds up front.

Barbara and John Hall, from Upper Tadmarton, near Banbury, were among the first residents to have solar panels and a battery installed under the trial in December.

Mrs Hall said: “This scheme is just brilliant because you're not having to pay out a big lump sum but you're getting all the benefits.”

The project is part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s alternative energy markets innovation programme and backed by funding from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP).

NZIP is a £1 billion fund for low carbon technologies and systems and aims to lower the costs of decarbonisation, helping enable the UK to end its contribution to climate change.

Tom Woolley, SMS and Metis’s Product and Strategy Director, said: “It’s been such a fantastic partnership and to hit 100 installations is a good point to reflect on the progress.

“There are over 100 more customers contracted and excited about their installations, so we are not slowing down. Together, with our partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, we’re making the energy transition as accessible as getting a mobile phone, and that’s something to be very proud of.”

People can still register their interest in the scheme through the energy saver app, which has so far been downloaded by 9,000 people. Even if they are not chosen for the trial, users can still expect to cut their gas and electricity consumption by at least eight per cent through the energy insights offered by the app.

As well as the solar trial, the council and its partners plan to trial air source heat pump installations for a select number of properties in the future.

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To mark the occasion Oxfordshire County Council is flying the Ukrainian flag outside County Hall to show continued solidarity with Ukraine. 

The council is continuing to work in collaboration through the Oxfordshire Migration Partnership to support Ukrainians and provide dedicated resources to keep guests safe and well during the ongoing war.   

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Over the past three years, more than 2,800 Ukrainians have come to stay in the county to seek sanctuary. At the same time, our residents have continued to show their support and generosity by hosting Ukrainian guests under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. We stand together in solidarity with the people of Ukraine who have come here to seek safety” 

“We are flying the Ukrainian flag outside County Hall to show our support, and we will continue to do all that we can to provide a warm welcome and offer the necessary support for those seeking sanctuary in our county.” 

More information about support offered to Ukrainian families in Oxfordshire, and those hosting them is available by visiting oxfordshire.gov.uk/ukraine.  

Following a motion passed at full council in November 2023, and cabinet approval in June 2024, Oxfordshire County Council is working to become a recognised Council of Sanctuary, as awarded through the City of Sanctuary movement.  

City of Sanctuary aims to build a movement of welcome and inclusion across the UK and provides a framework for developing the council’s approach to supporting refugees and asylum seekers, with a strong focus on engaging people with lived experience so that they can play a vital role in creating a fairer Oxfordshire for all. 

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The A361 in north Oxfordshire has reopened after emergency repairs were completed ahead of schedule.

The road, north of Wardington, was closed by Oxfordshire County Council on 5 December after a sinkhole appeared in the centre of the carriageway. Emergency diversion routes were immediately put into place.

Repairs began after inspectors visited the site, with the council’s highways contractor, Milestone Infrastructure, expecting the work to last until the end of December. However, it has managed to complete it before Christmas.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I am extremely grateful to our highways teams and Milestone for making this such a priority and for reopening this busy road earlier than expected.

“While this repair work was carried on an emergency basis in order to reopen the road as quickly as possible, we will be working with our partners at Cherwell District Council and the Environment Agency in the new year to explore whether more permanent repairs are necessary.

“If this is the case, residents can be assured that they will be carried out as planned works, which should be less disruptive to users of this busy road.”

It is believed that the sinkhole was caused by the recent flooding of the River Cherwell, causing debris to damage a brick water pipe (culvert) running under the road.

The most recent inspection of the culvert by the council’s highways teams, carried out before the flooding, showed no cause for concern in the culvert’s condition. However, debris had blocked the watercourse, submerging the culvert.

Water had to be pumped out to enable the culvert to be inspected, before the full extent of required repairs could be determined.

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An innovative vape recycling scheme, launched in November 2023, has collected more than two tonnes of disposable vapes for recycling in Oxfordshire over 12 months.

Funded by Material Focus, a not for profit organisation leading the Recycle Your Electricals campaign, the initiative has played a vital role in promoting sustainable recycling practices across Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council, in partnership with Cherwell District Council, Oxford City Council and its commercial partner ODS, aimed to provide new and convenient recycling options for disposable vapes. These often end up in litter bins or general waste, contaminating other recyclable materials and posing fire risks in collection vehicles and waste management facilities.

Throughout its operation, the scheme offered multiple collection options for residents, including:

• New kerbside collection services for vapes for residents in Cherwell and Oxford.
• New public recycling collection points in locations in Oxford, Banbury, Bicester, and Kidlington, including local bars, university premises, and public buildings.
• Large pink bins placed at all seven household waste recycling centres in Oxfordshire.

As part of the project, more than 80,000 disposable vapes have been recycled so far, exceeding the target of two tonnes of vape waste.

Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, pictured, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “The best solution to this issue is for disposable vapes to be banned, which the government is doing and we welcome this. In the meantime, our joint efforts to get as many of these items as possible into the recycling system has been a great success, and we thank everyone who has taken part.

“I'm glad to see people will still be able to dispose of single use vapes sensibly, up to the time they are rightly banned.”

Councillor Nigel Chapman, Oxford City Council Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies, said: “Once collected, the vapes were meticulously sorted and dismantled manually, with components such as plastic, aluminium, and lithium carefully separated and sent to approved recyclers. This process not only promotes responsible disposal but also recovers valuable materials that can be reused.

“Looking ahead, the government has announced a ban on disposable vapes by June 2025, encouraging consumers to opt for reusable alternatives. This aligns with our ongoing commitment to promoting sustainable practices.”

Councillor Ian Middleton, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services at Cherwell District Council, said: “Single use vapes are notorious for the dangers they present if they are not disposed of in responsible manner. Not only are the batteries inside them a huge waste of resources if they are carelessly discarded, they can also cause serious fires if collected with general waste, which represents a safety risk to refuse collectors and the general public.

“We were pleased to be able to provide residents in the district with an easy and safe way to recycle these tricky mixed material products from their homes via kerbside collections and local recycling points and look forward to them finally being banned next year.”

While the funded period of the project has concluded, most of the services set up will continue. Residents can find drop off locations to recycle their vapes using the search tool on the Recycle Your Electricals website, and find details on kerbside collections using Oxfordshire’s Waste Wizard tool.

Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus, said: “This vape recycling project has proven that small electrical recycling is important to residents. We are delighted with how engaged and supportive local communities have been and how the investment from the Electrical Recycling Fund has funded the local project.

“As e-waste is the fastest growing waste stream, we hope to continue to see a rise in the amount of electricals recycled across the UK.”

An estimated 8.2 million vapes (such as single use, pod and ‘big puff’) are now thrown away every week or recycled incorrectly – around 13 every second. More information about the big puff vapes, which are surging onto the market, and the threat they pose is available on  Material Focus’ website.

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An on-street enforcement exercise by Oxfordshire County Council’s counter fraud team led to two men appearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last week. It follows the prosecution of a woman in Oxford in May for a similar offence.

On Friday 13 December, Andrew Gill, 34, of Overdale Close, Oxford, and Johnis Lleshi, 21, of Overmead Green, Oxford, admitted illegally using blue badges to park in Oxford city centre.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “People rely on their blue badges so that they can park near workplaces, supermarkets, and health facilities. Illegal use of the scheme denies a space to someone who really needs it.

“It is not acceptable to misuse this service and the recent enforcement operation shows that this council is taking action to stop this abuse.”

Mr Gill used a blue badge to park on 21 May 2024. The council’s fraud team established that Mr Gill was using a badge that had been cancelled as its owner, Mr Gill’s mother, had died three years earlier. 

He was fined £134 plus a court charge of £54 and the council was awarded costs of £350.

Mr Lleshi was found guilty of illegally using a blue badge to park on 19 June 2024 and for failing to present it for inspection when requested to do so.  

When later interviewed under caution he admitted buying the badge from the social media platform Snapchat.

He was fined £153 plus a court charge of £61 and the council was awarded costs of £350.

A further case was adjourned until the new year.

Blue badge misuse is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. A penalty charge notice will normally be issued to anyone misusing a disabled parking bay.

As well as removing blue badges from people who are misusing and abusing the scheme, enforcement is used to raise awareness of the importance of the badges for residents who really need them.

Many people rely on their blue badge to remain mobile and independent, enabling them to access goods and services.

Inappropriate use of limited disabled parking bays can result in blue badge holders missing medical appointments, not being able to get out to buy food, or get to work.

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Oxfordshire County Council and St. Modwen, the master developer for the Kingsgrove housing development, have worked together to construct the new route that extends between the A417 east of Wantage, and the A338 north of Wantage. This provides easier travel for both residents of the Kingsgrove housing development and visitors to the area.

A three-metre wide path for walking and cycling runs along the length of the road, while the original entrance to the Kingsgrove development is now for pedestrians, cyclists and buses only.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “Wantage is a historic market town that has seen, and will continue to see, significant growth in much-needed new homes and associated community facilities. The need for this scheme was established long before planning approval was obtained, and I am delighted that the entire route is now open.

“King Alfred Way will encourage active travel through the provision of high-quality pedestrian and cycle facilities, together with opportunities for travel by bus. It is also expected to help reduce congestion and noise levels, and improve air quality, within Wantage town centre.

“The opening of the road is reflective of the commitment, hard work and successful collaboration between the county council and St Modwen – together with suppliers working on behalf of both parties.”

Thomas Snell, Development Manager at St. Modwen, said: "We’re incredibly proud to have played a central role in delivering the new road, a project that not only enhances local infrastructure but also supports our growing Kingsgrove community.

“By improving connectivity and prioritising sustainable travel options, this road reflects our commitment to creating thriving, future-ready places where people can live, work, and enjoy their surroundings.”

Officially opened by Olly Glover, MP for Wantage and Didcot and Councillor Iain Cameron, Deputy Mayor of Wantage, the link’s new title – King Alfred Way – commemorates Wantage’s royal history. The name pays tribute to King Alfred the Great, who was born in Wantage in 849, and who is the inspiration for the name of the Kingsgrove community – referencing Alfred’s apple orchards, which once covered the area.

Olly Glover, MP for Wantage and Didcot said: “Residents in Wantage and beyond have been eagerly awaiting the opening of this road for some time, following some delays. I am pleased to see it open and hope it will be of benefit to all road users in the coming months and years.”

Ends

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However, for 35 year old Sadia Ali, Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) made the process a whole lot less daunting, and she is now encouraging others to make the most of the centre and its variety of resources.

She explained: “After years of working in investment banking I knew I wanted something more. I knew I wanted a family, and the demanding hours of the banking world would have made that difficult.

“I’ve had my own journey with this, but I’ve also met so many people that are stuck in less than ideal situations because of money; whether that’s an environment, a relationship, cultural dynamics or a job.

“I’ve also witnessed the detrimental impact and spiralling effect finances and bad money management can have on mental health and overall wellbeing. There is nothing that gives you more choice, more options, more independence than having your own money set for growth and building an independent source of income.

“I wanted to make finance and wealth building more accessible for the everyday person. I wanted more people to understand how simple it is to build wealth and how it’s possible for everyone at any level of income to invest in the stock market.”

The Oxford born and bred entrepreneur first came to the centre thanks to a women’s event hosted by Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

 “It’s hard doing everything by yourself. Entrepreneurship is glorified as being easy, and so I felt out of my depth at times, especially as I was so used to high achieving,” Sadia commented.

“I found out about the BIPC through an event that I went to, hosted by OxLEP, at the Oxford Westgate Library.

“I was spending some time in Oxford, so it was the perfect little place for me to work from, providing the perfect balance between quiet focus time and also being around like-minded people in a similar position. I often used the marketing suite to film videos and podcasts. But mostly I used the booth for meetings!”

Sadia has also praised the support of the staff, particularly Ryan Johnson, Oxfordshire County Council’s BIPC Manager, and Sophie Silverstone, an officer.

She added: “The manager Ryan has also been a great help. He presented me with so many opportunities that I’m so grateful for, and Sophie was always available to help me through any real time challenges I was facing. I was really blessed to have had access to those two!”

Since using the BIPC to start her own business, Sadia is keen to share her own experiences and expertise to help others who may be feeling the same way she did.

She continued: “My business has grown so much in the last year and the centre had a huge role to play in this, mostly because of the space it gave me to focus and for helping me build a schedule for my work day. Also being around other business owners was so helpful, to support each other in quite a lonely journey. 

“I would strongly recommend anyone thinking about starting a business to use the BIPC and the resources available. From the free one on one mentoring to the marketing suite and the events that are held, it is such a brilliant space for anyone to start their journey. If you’re able to get through those first hurdles, then it is the most rewarding thing ever.”

Ryan Johnson, Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre, said: “Sadia’s story just shows, yet again, how much the centre can help anybody to make the next step with their business. I wish her all the best.

“Much of what is on offer is free of charge. By providing free resources and support, we can give people in Oxfordshire an extra hand to make their dreams a reality and help their businesses thrive.”

Located in the Oxford Westgate Library, the centre provides a range of services, resources and activities for start-ups. Individuals can benefit from one on one support, which can be booked online, or attend workshops designed to help develop their business ideas.

A monthly start-up huddle is held to provide a free opportunity for individuals to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share knowledge, experience and ideas, and grow their businesses.

The BIPC was recognised by the national Libraries Connected Awards back in June 2023, winning the children’s award for its work engaging hundreds of new youth participants aged eight to 25 in enterprising activities.

The centre is part of the British Library's National Network of Business & Intellectual Property Centres, which aim to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

Find out more about what’s on offer and what support is available by visiting the Business and Intellectual Property Centre’s website.

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The road, north of Wardington, was closed by Oxfordshire County Council on Monday after the sinkhole appeared in the centre of the carriageway. Emergency diversion routes were immediately put into place.

Following visits to the site by inspectors, the council’s contractors are planning to begin repair work today. It is hoped that the road can be opened and the repairs completed by the end of the month, depending on what is found once water is pumped out and excavation work starts.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is an extremely busy road, which is why we have made it a priority to have a repair programme in place within days.

“We will reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so. We hope this will be by the end of December but, unfortunately, there are no guarantees when it comes to work of this nature. In the meantime, we would urge motorists to follow the diversion routes that are in place to ensure everyone’s safety.”

The suggested diversion route is between A423 Southam Road and the A425 Daventry Road.

It is believed that the sinkhole is a result of the recent flooding of the River Cherwell, causing washout of fill to affect a brick water pipe (culvert) running under the road. The most recent inspection of the culvert by the council’s highways teams, carried out before the flooding, showed no cause for concern in the culvert’s condition.

The washed out material has blocked the watercourse, submerging the culvert. The water will be pumped out to enable the culvert to be inspected, so that the full extent of required repairs can be determined.

The culvert may need to be temporarily replaced by a pipe to enable the sinkhole to be backfilled and the road reopened while a longer term repair is planned.

Cllr Gant added: “This is a pretty stark example of the kind of pressure our large and rural road network is experiencing from extreme weather. I am very grateful to our officers and contractors for getting out on site as soon as possible to put a plan in place for mitigation and repair.”

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The pizza and politics session was open to all in Oxfordshire aged 11 to 18. It aimed to help them get an understanding of local democracy and encourage them to get involved in politics.

Attendees were also joined by Cabinet Member Councillor Pete Sudbury, Councillor Charlie Hicks, Champion for Future Generations, and other councillors and members of staff, who shared their experiences.

Austin Isles and Alfie Walker, who are both 15 and go to Marlborough School, Woodstock, joined the session. Both of them had been to a number of events previously.

“In particular I was interested in the green belt and how land could be effectively used for the new Oxford United stadium,” said Alfie.

They both feel it’s important for young people to get more involved in politics at both a local and national level to influence change when they are old enough to vote.

“By having an interest it can help you to have more knowledge when it comes to voting when you turn eighteen,” Austin added.

Alfie agreed: “It allows people to get their voice out from a young age so by the time that they are old enough to take things into their own hands, they'll already be experienced.”

Aiman Shah, who is 17 and attends The Swan School in Oxford, was also at the event, the first one of its kind she has been to.

“I do politics at A Level so I thought this would be a good link and also I think it's just quite good for young people to have a say in what happens in local government,” she commented.

“I think it's cool to meet people who have the same interests as me because I think we all came here for like similar reasons.”

Aiman found the event to be a big confidence booster and was particularly inspired by the councillors who shared their stories and passion for politics with the young people.

She continued: “I think the main takeaway was just seeing these councillors and how passionate they are about their roles.

“This has really boosted my confidence too. So if I keep attending things like this, hopefully I will become a more confident person, and it will a good experience to put on my personal statement because I'm in the sixth form.”

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of the Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment & Future Generations, said: “We want to develop and strengthen youth engagement with local democracy, and hearing the voice of young people in Oxfordshire, which the pizza and politics event was a crucial part of.

“As holder of the climate and environment portfolios, I am painfully aware of the burdens we are passing to these young people, to clear up the problems we have left unsolved. We are leading the way on laying the foundations of their ability to succeed”.

“In this time, more than any before it, it is important that young people have their voices heard, particularly on the matters that affect them most. Even if they aren’t old enough to vote yet, there’s plenty of ways to get involved in politics and make a difference.

“It was an inspiring experience to meet with young people from all over the county. I hope that the event has inspired them to get involved in local democracy, both now and in the future.”

Councillor Charlie Hicks, Oxfordshire County Council’s Champion for Future Generations, said: “Pizza and politics is a part of our new work promoting the wellbeing of future generations – to ensure all the decisions the council makes are in the interests both of people alive today, but also for the whole life-course of people who are children today and those yet to be born.

“This is an approach started by the Welsh government and we are following in their footsteps as the first council in England to put future generations at the heart of our work.

“I'm so pleased that the pizza and politics event was such a success. We heard young people's priorities for what matters most to them, which is an important counterbalance to the voices that we hear most often in the council chamber.

“I'm looking forward to furthering our youth engagement and democracy work so that every young person in the county feels comfortable to come forward and let councillors know what matters to them.”

Future Generations Fortnight will continue as an annual programme of engagement events to encourage, support and inspire young people to make their voices heard and have a greater influence on decision making in Oxfordshire.

Councillors passed a motion back in March 2023 with cross-party support setting out a commitment to considering the wellbeing of Future Generations in all decision-making.

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The library, which reopened on 16 November, has been given a complete redecoration, as well as some new additions, including new moveable shelving to allow larger events to be held, and charging ports to allow customers to work on their own devices.

Surplus shelving and a counter from another library was also repurposed as part of the refurbishment to reduce the cost and environmental impact of the project.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “This newly refreshed library provides a lovely new space for people from all over the local community with a great range of books and so much more.

“This has been a real team effort, with the local community, our volunteer group, our staff and suppliers all pulling together. We have been lucky to have been supported by South Oxfordshire District Council, and the Friends of Goring Library, who also helped raise funds needed to buy some new books and hosted an event to celebrate the reopening.

“We are confident that local people will love the changes; and they now have a library that is modern, warm, welcoming and better able to meet their needs.”

 The refurbishment is part of an ongoing project to modernise Oxfordshire’s libraries, and improve accessibility, reflecting the changing needs of local communities.

It was made possible thanks, in part, to developer funding, applied for through South Oxfordshire District Council.

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The project has provided much needed pedestrian crossings, a continuous, widened cycle and footpath, and a southbound bus lane on the A44 between the two roundabouts, a total distance of approximately two kilometres. 

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “It’s great to see the new crossings and cycle and pedestrian paths, which make walking, cycling and wheeling much safer and more comfortable on this major route. With the new bus lane, these works are part of our commitment to prioritise the health and wellbeing of residents and invest in an inclusive, integrated and sustainable transport network.” 

The project is part of county council’s north Oxford corridor improvements programme, which provides transport infrastructure to support the expected housing growth across Cherwell. 

Improvements along the A44 and the two roundabouts include:

• A new parallel crossing on Cassington Road at the junction with the A44.
• A new signalised toucan crossing on the A44 to the north of Cassington Road.
• A new continuous, widened pedestrian and cycle path on the western side of the A44.
• A new dedicated southbound bus lane.
• New bus stops near Couling Close.
• A new footpath on the eastern side of the A44.
• New and improved informal crossing facilities.
• Improved street and footpath lighting.
• Maintenance and strengthening to rail bridge slab structure.
• New signalised crossings on the Pear Tree interchange.
• Additional traffic lanes on Pear Tree interchange to improve bus journey times., and
• Tie-in with adjacent north Oxford works. 

The project has also provided a new accessible footpath with railings down to the Oxford Canal towpath and involved the planting of over 200 standard trees, 635m2 of shrub planting, 1700m2 woodland mix seeding, 850m2 wildflower grassland and over 2,000m2 of open grassland seeding along the route. 

Improvements to the A44 between the Pear Tree interchange and Cassington Road roundabout have been delivered with the county council’s construction partner Milestone Infrastructure Ltd. 

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Organisations across Oxfordshire are joining forces with University College London’s Institute of Health Equity (IHE) on a two year Marmot Place project, which will tackle health inequalities in local communities.

Marmot Places are local areas that adopt the evidence-based principles and methodology developed by Sir Michael and his team to tackle the social determinants of health and reduce health inequalities.

Although a small number of other places in the country have become a Marmot Place, Oxfordshire will the first county council area to do so.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Becoming a Marmot Place represents a commitment by the council towards reducing health inequalities.

“This new partnership will greatly benefit many lives in Oxfordshire and significantly advance our long-term goals of alleviating major health disparities and fostering healthier, more active and safer communities.”

Drawing on extensive data collected over many decades by IHE director and esteemed epidemiologist Professor Sir Michael Marmot, the programme seeks to ensure that 'social determinants' –the conditions in which someone is born, raised, live, work, and age – provide a solid foundation for good health.

The partnership aims to evaluate and build on existing work, measure and tackle rural inequality and utilise research to find innovative solutions to tackling health inequalities.

The new collaboration was launched with an event on 25 November in Rose Hill in Oxford, with an appearance from Professor Sir Michael Marmot himself. Organisations from across the county – ranging from NHS, county and district councils, universities, businesses and voluntary sector – also attended and signalled their commitment to this new partnership work.

Sir Michael said: “Despite being a county of relative wealth and good health we know that is not the experience of all. The conditions in which many people are living harms health, particularly the least well-off and those of ethnic minority groups, who may experience racism and discrimination. The work we are launching today seeks to address the underlying causes of these problems and promote health equity for all.”

In Oxfordshire, the Marmot programme will both complement and build on the work already taking place locally to improve the health of people of all backgrounds, particularly those from disadvantaged communities.

By joining forces with the IHE, Oxfordshire organisations will also now be able to draw on the added expertise of the Marmot team at the IHE as it seeks to deal with those inequalities.

The new link-up will also help prioritise local resources, guide commissioning and inform bids for relevant funding, all with the support of partners from the NHS, academia and the third sector.

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Two years later, he kept his promise with support from Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC).

Now that his business, The Drone Rules, is thriving, 32 year old William is encouraging others to consider the BIPC to help turn their business ideas into reality.

Inspired by his Nigerian-born mother who was one of the first female aeronautical engineers in her town, William wanted to capitalise on his background in aerospace and astronautics engineering to create a business that centres on changing the world for the better through aerial technology – drones.

He said: “I had been working for an Oxford University spinout, having spent five years as a flight simulation engineer, building simulators and travelling the world to test them, but I had promised myself I would start my own business.

“The drone industry is a fast paced and rapidly growing market. This is because drones offer incredible value if used correctly – anything from aerial photography to delivering medical supplies at hospitals. There are so many opportunities with these incredible flying robots!”

William first came into contact with the team at the BIPC when he was offering free services at Oxford Westgate Library.

As he explains, “I quit my job in 2021, and I then began to offer free services to the library in the form of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) drone workshops. These were STEM based coding classes for young people.

“I was then introduced by a library manager to the BIPC management as she saw that I was keen to develop STEM workshops for young people.”

William was one of the first people to use the popular start-up networking huddles, which are now one of the most well attended of its kind in the country and has utilised almost every resource available.

“I have used almost everything at the centre to help my business, including the databases on offer, photography and lighting equipment, the green screen background, the meeting rooms for client discussions, and even the main room for various STEM sessions.”

Thanks to the help on offer at BIPC, William’s business is now thriving, providing educational and consultancy services to a range of different organisations.

“I have managed to branch the business out into two main areas: education and consultancy. “Drone City provides further development of STEM by inspiring young people (key stage one to two) through all mediums of education through practical sessions utilising our very own story books, online resources and STEM drones

“Meanwhile, Droneworxx (key stage two to post-16) helps with the development of careers by inspiring those aged 12 - 21 and over by offering programmes, workshops and practical sessions to help young adults to succeed in the world of autonomous aviation.

“The Drone Rules is the parent company for both Drone City and Droneworxx and is also helping businesses and organisations across Oxfordshire and surrounding counties adopt drone solutions including NHS, Oxfordshire County Council, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus and Oxford Business Park.

“I would strongly recommend anybody who is thinking about starting their own business to attend a meeting with the BIPC for a one to one, or join one of the start-up huddles, and gain insights into taking the leap into developing your idea into a viable business.

“You may feel ready to fly, but learning about the financial, administrative, and business planning frameworks may help make the ride a little less bumpy!”

Ryan Johnson, Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre, said: “The Drone Rules is just another example of a small Oxfordshire startup that has benefited from the expertise and resources on offer at the BIPC.

“It’s always great to hear these success stories, and I hope to hear many more.

"The BIPC offers various free resources, including free business advice and mentoring from our team, networking events, database access, meeting spaces, and equipment. It's the perfect place to bring your business idea to life.”

Located in the Oxford Westgate Library, the centre provides a range of services, resources and activities for start-ups. Individuals can benefit from one on one support or attend workshops designed to help develop their business ideas.

A monthly startup huddle is held to provide a free opportunity for individuals to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share knowledge, experience and ideas, and grow their businesses.

The BIPC was recognised by the national Libraries Connected awards back in June 2023, winning the children’s award for its work engaging hundreds of new youth participants aged eight to 25 in enterprising activities.

The centre is part of the British Library's national network of business and intellectual property centres, which aim to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

Find out more about what’s on offer and what support is available by visiting the Business and Intellectual Property Centre’s website.

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Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team recently tested 15 popular items from outlets around the county to ensure they complied with rules relating to accurate calorie labelling.

Foods assessed included salads, sandwiches and pizza, with the vast majority of samples (13) having accurate labelling.

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “The trading standards team has an exceptionally wide remit, but at its heart is helping to ensure customers are confident about the products they are purchasing, especially when it can have an impact on their health and wellbeing.

“This is just one small example of the team doing just that and helping to ensure that we can trust food standards and the claims made about the food we eat, from farm to fork.”

To be compliant, actual calorific content should be within 20 per cent of the claimed amount.

Two items were found to have inaccurate labelling, with the team and other local authorities working with both businesses to resolve the issues.

Jody Kerman, Head of Trading Standards at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “While the sample size on this occasion was relatively small, consumers should feel reassured about the high levels of compliance with this important requirement. Calorie labelling, whether on menus or on food packaging, is used by many to help make choices about the food they eat and they must have trust in the accuracy of these claims.”

Large food businesses such as restaurants, pubs, and cafes with 250 or more employees are required by law to inform customers of the calories in the food they offer, normally by displaying them on their menus.

Calorie information is required to be made available either in person or online before a purchase is made.

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An electric car club pilot scheme has proved so popular that 15 vehicles are set to remain in place at more than 10 new and existing locations around the county, following the end of the 18 month trial period.

Since the pilot scheme was launched in April 2023, it has attracted over new 1,200 members, seen over 5,200 individual hiring sessions and led to more than a quarter of a million electric miles being driven.

The scheme has been coordinated by Oxfordshire County Council and is supported by Oxford City Council and Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire district councils who have hosted the pilot vehicles in their car parks. The vehicles have been provided and operated by hire companies Co Wheels, Enterprise CarClub and Zimbl.

The success of the extended trial scheme means that car club vehicles are set to continue in the following locations:

• Abingdon – Cattle Market and West St Helen Street car parks (Co Wheels)
• Banbury – Calthorpe Street West and Windsor Street car parks (Zimbl)
• Bicester – Claremont car park (Zimbl)
• Eynsham – Back Lane car park (Co Wheels)
• Henley – Greys Road car park (Co Wheels)
• Oxford – Redbridge and Seacourt Park and Rides (Co Wheels and Zimbl)
• Wallingford – Cattlemarket car park (Co Wheels)
• Witney – Woodford Way car park (Enterprise CarClub).

New car club vehicles are also set to be introduced at these new locations:

• Chipping Norton – New Road car park (Zimbl)
• Woodstock – Hensington Road car park (Zimbl)
• Thame – Upper High Street (Co Wheels).

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “The popularity of the EV car clubs has led to the continuation of the schemes in many places, meaning even more residents and businesses can try out these shared cars for themselves.

“Car clubs give people the chance to use an EV when they need one, without the expense of owning or leasing one outright. They can make it much more affordable for people who don’t drive every day and provide real-world experience of driving electric without a long-term commitment.”

It is estimated that a successful car club vehicle can take on average 20 individually owned cars – often petrol or diesel vehicles – off the road.

EVs in the scheme can be hired from £5.95 per hour, including insurance, plus 12p per electric mile.

If demand for car clubs continues and funding can be identified, then it’s likely more car club locations will be introduced within the next few years. Residents can submit locations where they would like to car clubs using Oxfordshire County Council’s EV charger and car club demand tracker.

Updated details about the EV car club pilot and where your nearest car club location is can be found on the Oxfordshire County Council website.

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The new ceremony room is larger than the county council’s other ceremony rooms across the county and will be able to hold up to 80 guests. The change will take effect from 1 December.

The service will also be moving day to day activities, including registering births and deaths, and giving notice of marriage or civil partnership, to Samuelson House in Banbury.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “Our registration services touch the lives of people at milestone moments in their lives and is an important component of what we deliver at the county council.

“With the sale of Bodicote House, we have been looking for alternative locations for both our registration service, and ceremonies in Banbury.

“It’s great news that we’ve been able to secure Banbury Town Hall, which is an ideal central location for Banbury residents, and a lovely venue.”

Banbury Town Hall is a Victorian grade II listed building. It is one of seven council-run ceremony rooms, and one of almost 100 approved wedding venues across the county.

More information about the registration service is available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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Oxfordshire County Council and its highways maintenance contractor, Milestone Infrastructure, have worked hard to ensure that the county’s roads keep moving and stay safe when the colder weather hits – as it did earlier this week – while also reducing long-term costs and environmental impacts.

The new salt barn at the Deddington highways depot, near Banbury, was built by Ryebridge Construction on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council. The barn keeps road salt in the optimum conditions for spreading, both avoiding wastage and ensuring that the salt is more effective, so smaller quantities can be used.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We are committed to keeping our network of major roads free from ice and snow to minimise the risk of accidents and ensure the smooth flow of traffic. This investment in new equipment and skills demonstrates how serious we are about it.”

The new Deddington barn can hold 2,800 tonnes of road salt, enough to grit over 23,333km of roads. The roof is fitted with solar panels, generating approximately 50kw power for the grid.

With the completion of the salt barn project, there is now no uncovered road salt stored in Oxfordshire, putting the county ahead of many other local authorities. Oxfordshire has a 5,500 tonne capacity salt barn at the Drayton highways depot, near Abingdon, which was opened in 2018, and a 2,200 tonne capacity barn sited at the Woodcote winter depot in south Oxfordshire.

With more than 10,000 tonnes of salt stored across the county, the council's winter maintenance team is more prepared than ever.

Oxfordshire’s winter preparations have also been boosted by the arrival of a new fleet of gritting vehicles, consisting of 16 26 tonne trucks, 11 18 tonne vehicles, two 7.5 tonne trucks and one 3.5 tonne ‘baby gritter’, to treat very narrow roads and the park and rides. In total, 30 vehicles are stationed at three winter depots across the county, ready for when the temperatures drop.

The winter service crew of 60 highly skilled drivers have all undertaken familiarisation sessions to get them used to the new trucks and some drivers have also completed additional skid pan training at a specialist training centre in Hampshire.

Richard Lovewell, Milestone Infrastructure Business Director said: “Keeping Oxfordshire’s roads safe and mobile throughout the winter is a top priority for Milestone. With Oxfordshire County Council, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that the county is well prepared, no matter what the weather holds.

“With the new salt barn and gritter fleet, over 10,000 tonnes of salt in stock and 60 expert drivers on standby across the county, we’re all set for when the temperatures drop. Thanks to all the staff who have gone above and beyond to ensure we are ‘winter ready’ and especially to those who go out every year in challenging conditions to keep our network moving.”

Oxfordshire County Council salts approximately 42 per cent of Oxfordshire’s road network, one of the highest rates in the country.

While Oxford City Council looks after the gritting inside the Oxford ring road, Oxfordshire County Council has responsibility for the rest of the county – including all A roads, B roads and some C roads, apart from the M40, A43 and A34, which are covered by National Highways.

Gritter drivers treat 26 routes across the county in each gritting session, covering over 3,500km in total, of which 1,960km (1,200 miles) are salted – that’s the equivalent of travelling from London to Iceland.

Cllr Gant added: “While we make great efforts to keep roads clear in winter, drivers must never assume that a road will be free from ice and should adjust their driving to suit the conditions. If you do find yourself behind one of our gritter lorries, which are restricted to 30mph when they are carrying out their work, please be patient and considerate – remember that they are there to keep you safe.”

Last winter, which was relatively mild, the gritters were sent out 25 times between November 2023 and March 2024, with around 4,523 tonnes of salt spread on Oxfordshire's roads. The average number of treatments over the past six years is 37.

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Single bus fares will be capped at £1 every Sunday in December in Oxfordshire – an improvement on last year’s offer, which only included the Sundays leading up to Christmas.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This measure proved popular last year, with more people using the bus as a result. So, we are delighted to be able to not just repeat it, but to expand it by including the Sunday after Christmas too.”

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Group, said: “This is great news for passengers, the bus industry and the local economy. The festive period is crucial for the visitor economy and retail sector and an expensive time of year for many, so this scheme will help everyone and encourage more people to travel sustainably for Christmas shopping or festive get togethers.”

The 2023 offer led to an estimated 7.4 per cent increase in bus journeys and it is hoped for a similar result this year.

Chris Hanson, Managing Director of Stagecoach, said: “We are pleased to once again support this initiative, offering £1 bus fares on Sundays throughout December, in Oxfordshire.

“This scheme not only makes festive travel more affordable but also encourages sustainable transport options during a busy time of year. We look forward to welcoming more passengers on board and helping everyone to enjoy the festive season with ease and convenience.”

The December fare cap is one of many measures funded by a £1.9 million government grant in 2023 to improve bus services over two years.

Bus users can also continue to take advantage of the recently introduced MyBus ticket, offering almost unlimited travel on nearly all local services for a fixed daily or weekly rate. More than 100,000 journeys have already been made with the ticket in a little over three months.

Park and ride users can also carry on making savings thanks to the joint parking and bus travel ticket. The ticket, which offers parking for 16 hours plus return bus travel, remains at £4 for a car with one adult or £5 for a car with two adults until April 2025. With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free.

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Appleton Community Shop, a not-for-profit shop, café and village social hub, was started in 2000 by a group of villagers in response to the closure of the existing village shop.

Carterton Community College Service Club was established in 2020 by students Kieran Everett and Alfie Crabb. The club provides support to potentially vulnerable children of service personnel, who represent nearly a quarter of school pupils. 

His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Marjorie Neasham Glasgow BEM said: “We are delighted that the hard work and dedication of the volunteers at Carterton Community College Service Club and Appleton Community Shop have been recognised by this prestigious award.

"Oxfordshire is extraordinary for so many reasons, chiefly Oxfordshire’s communities which are supported by creative, hard-working volunteers. All of Carterton and Appleton benefit from the work these two KAVS winners give to their communities. They are a credit to our whole county.”

The award was instituted in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and was previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS). It is equivalent to an MBE. KAVS is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and it is awarded for life.

Any group doing volunteer work that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for such an award. Each group is assessed on the benefit it brings to the local community and its standing within that community.

Anyone wishing to nominate a group for the award next year should visit kavs.dcms.gov.uk and complete the online form. The deadline is 1 December.

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The free Oxfordshire County Council funded health check can lower a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and (certain types of) dementia.

Since 2019, 67,328 Oxfordshire residents have taken up an invitation to have an NHS health check.

Councillor Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “NHS health checks help people to get an overview of their general health and are a fast, effective method of finding out if there are some simple things they could be doing to improve their long-term health and wellbeing.

“We know that men are more likely to put off seeing a doctor, and this can have a real impact on our health. That’s why, this International Men’s Day, we’re making an extra special effort to encourage men to get booked in for an NHS health check. It’s quick and easy, and a great way to detect potential issues and get help with them before they become serious.”

NHS health checks are funded by the county council’s public health team, which exists to improve the health of local people and protect them from preventable health issues – helping local residents live safe and healthy lives and play an active role in their communities.

Everyone eligible, aged 40 to 74 in England, will be invited for a free NHS health check once every five years (apart from those already seeing their GP for certain conditions). 

 A health check will take around 30 minutes:

• You will be asked some simple questions about your family history, whether or not you smoke and how much alcohol you drink.
• Your height, weight, sex, ethnicity and age will be recorded.
• Your blood pressure and pulse will be taken.
• A simple blood test will check your cholesterol level.
• Your body mass index (BMI) will be calculated. BMI is a measure of whether you're a healthy weight for your height.
• Your level of risk of developing certain conditions (i.e. stroke, kidney and heart disease, type 2 diabetes and types of dementia) will be calculated.
• You will be given personalised lifestyle advice to help you live a longer, healthier life.

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The council already operates a booking system for residents wanting to dispose of small quantities of DIY waste and, in the future, this will be extended to all users. Currently, people can visit the sites during opening hours without pre-booking.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, approved the measure today (14 November) at his cabinet member’s decision meeting.

Cllr Sudbury said: “Our residents have helped Oxfordshire top the national recycling, reusing and composting table for 10 years in a row, so we know they are committed to reducing waste. We are confident that they will see the benefits of this new system, which will help them avoid long queues by booking a time slot in advance, and lead to better customer service from our HWRC employees.

“Booking systems have already been successfully introduced in many other parts of the country, including Swindon, West Berkshire, Suffolk, Kent and Gloucestershire, for several years. We consulted other authorities where similar systems are in place and received strong feedback about how it can improve the service.”

Advantages of a booking system include better traffic management, reduced queues, better recycling rates as staff can help visitors separate their recyclable from their non-recyclable waste, and more targeted communication with customers about their scheduled visit.

It will also save council taxpayers’ money by helping to prevent trade waste from being illegally disposed of at the HWRCs.

A study carried out in 2022 revealed there was no evidence that the introduction of booking systems led to an increase in fly-tipping.

Although the booking system will be online, residents without internet access will be able to book slots over the telephone.

The booking scheme is due to come into operation on 14 January 2026. The council aims to have it in place before the temporary closure of Oxford’s Redbridge HWRC for around three months to enable essential stabilisation work to be carried out. This work is expected to begin around May 2026.

As Redbridge would normally receive 40,000 customers in these three months, it is anticipated that these people would go to their nearest alternative site instead, increasing demand and queuing times. Therefore, a booking system would help alleviate any short-term issues arising from the temporary closure.

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The ‘Dark Skies’ proposals are due to be discussed tomorrow (Thursday) at a cabinet member’s decision meeting of the Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, Councillor Pete Sudbury.

However, ahead of the meeting, Cllr Sudbury said he intends to defer the decision until further work has been carried out, including more consultation, and talks with the police. It follows safety concerns raised by communities and other groups about the impact of the proposals.

Cllr Sudbury added: “This was intended as a technical document, which was meant to be a framework on which to base next stages, including consultation, and authorise expenditure. Unfortunately, it was quite understandably seen as a plan for immediate implementation.

“As a result, it set a lot of hares running, and I apologise for any upset caused.

“I'm grateful to all the people who have written to me and would urge them to speak at the meeting tomorrow because this is a real opportunity to influence how this goes forward.”

Although no decision will be made tomorrow, public speakers are still welcome and the deadline to register to speak, either online or in person at County Hall, has been extended until 12.30pm tomorrow. To register, email committeesdemocraticservices@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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The move follows the announcement by the government that the Household Support Fund will be extending from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.

Councillor Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “Inflation has fallen significantly since it’s high of over 11 per cent in 2022. However, this does not reflect the real situation people face every day, particularly those on lower incomes.

“Many people are still struggling with everyday costs and are having to cut back on basics such as food and heating, and sadly this has a very real impact on people’s physical and mental health.

“This is why it’s so important that we can continue to provide vital support to households that need it the most.”

The programme will provide support to the following groups:

• Children and young people in receipt of free school meals will continue to receive them in during school holidays.
• City and district councils will receive additional funding for locally targeted support as in previous years.
• The Residents Support Scheme will continue ensuring anyone experiencing financial crisis can get assistance with basic household costs.
• Funding will be made available for low-income pensioners who have lost their winter fuel allowance.

Residents can learn more about support available to help with rising living costs by visiting Oxfordshire County Council’s dedicated webpage oxfordshire.gov.uk/living

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With support from Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) 55-year-old Tim Pakouse has made his idea a reality and is encouraging others to make the most of the resources on offer.

Get Fed CIC (Community Interest Company) launched back in 2022 as a means of supporting young people identified as at particular risk of exploitation or exclusion from school. It aims to help them access employment while developing entrepreneurial skills along the way.

Experienced as a youth worker in a criminal justice setting,  Banbury-based Tim was concerned about the growing number of students for whom school was not working. He saw a link between these children and the developing problem of drugs exploitation: young people who weren’t achieving at school were more vulnerable to the offer of the local drug dealers, which gave Tim an idea.

He explains: “I was a youth worker for more than twenty years and saw so many young lads missing out on school for various reasons. I saw many of them at risk of getting involved with drug dealers and county lines.

“My idea was to create something where young people learn barista and business skills on our coffee van and have the opportunity to help project manage a gig in their community where they can earn 50 per cent of the profits. Making frothy coffees is a lot safer than dealing drugs!”

Tim first got in contact with the BIPC back in the summer of 2022 when he did a day of training with Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

 Although at first, he wasn’t sure about the impact that the BIPC would have, it was clear very soon how much of a useful resource it is, and had particular praise for BIPC manager, Ryan Johnson.

“I have worked with Ryan Johnson previously and stayed connected over various changes in role. Ryan is an inspiring person and amazing connector. When I heard about the launch of BIPC I was intrigued, and the timing seemed perfect for what I wanted to achieve.

“I was a bit sceptical at first as to whether BIPC would help me to be honest – I felt a bit inadequate to accept the help and I had a bit of imposter syndrome.

“However, the trainers were so helpful, and resources were so easily accessible. Being able to network with other business owners was great too – seeing your idea become a reality and getting useful feedback from others.

“I have used every resource available and I never miss a BIPC opportunity if I don’t have to!”

Since getting involved with the BIPC, Get Fed CIC has gone from strength to strength, with exciting plans including more involvement at local events and new vans. Tim even hopes to use the experience to help shape local government policy for young people.

“Get Fed is growing and gaining traction. We have now worked with more than 50 young people, with a high percentage of those having gone onto employment or further training.

“BIPC is the nursery from which we’ve sprung. The day of OxLEP (free!) training germinated the idea – talked about for years – which began to take on a plan and strategy.

“BIPC’s value is so organic and multi-layered it has to be experienced.  Ryan and the BIPC team energise the eco-system, which has incredible resources and potential – it’s one of the most exciting spaces I’ve ever known.”

Ryan Johnson, Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre, said: “The BIPC is a great, but often underutilised resource that almost anybody with an idea could benefit from. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve already got a business, or you simply have an idea and want help taking it to the next step – the BIPC is here to help. Over 1,500 people have already been supported with their start-ups and their ideas.

“That’s why it’s so great to hear more about Tim’s business and the difference it’s already making to young people in the county. I am glad the BIPC was able to help Get Fed flourish.

“Much of what is on offer at our BIPC is free of charge, including one to one sessions with one of our advisors. If you have a startup, or simply a business idea, and need some advice, get in touch to book a free session now.”

Located in the Oxford Central Library at Westgate, the centre provides a range of services, resources and activities for start-ups. Individuals can benefit from one on one support or attend workshops designed to help develop their business ideas.

A monthly start-up huddle is held to provide a free opportunity for individuals to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share knowledge, experience and ideas, and grow their businesses.

The BIPC was recognised by the national Libraries Connected Awards back in June 2023, winning the children’s award for its work engaging hundreds of new youth participants aged eight to 25 in enterprising activities.

The centre is part of the British Library's National Network of Business & Intellectual Property Centres, which aim to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

Find out more about what’s on offer and what support is available by visiting the Business and Intellectual Property Centre’s website.

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The council is creating the habitat, along with installing mammal culverts and an otter tunnel, as part of the construction of the south westerly section of the road. It will be on land set aside for a flood compensation area and will have the added benefit of improving flood resilience for local buildings and roads by holding excess water.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “The wetland habitat is going to increase biodiversity hugely. It will attract a whole range of wildlife, provide food for foraging birds and small mammals as well as flowers for insects in the spring. It will also offer cover for nesting birds and shelter for hibernation.

“Access to the wildlife wetland area will be open to the public, so local residents will be able to enjoy walking along gravel paths and watching as it matures over time."

The area will be planted with a mix of meadow grassland, semi mature native trees including black alder, silver birch and Scots pine and shrubs such as elder, wild privet, blackthorn and hawthorn. The species will complement existing habitats with some species able to tolerate wetter conditions around the flood compensation area.

Wildlife-friendly structures – eight precast concrete culvert boxes with integral mammal shelves – have now been craned and secured into place beneath the new road layout. The new culverts will drain water away from the road during heavy rainfall and flooding and the mammal shelves have been set into the side walls of the culvert at a higher level to provide a safe passage for badgers and other wildlife.

A precast concrete pipe for an otter tunnel has also been placed adjacent to Elm Bridge and Lady Brook, again set in at a higher ground level than the existing brook, to allow mammals to safely move around the area when the brook is flooded.

Councillor Roberts added: “These specialised construction elements used on this scheme, will help reduce our impact on the environment and provide mammals with refuge during extreme weather events.”

Ecological surveys conducted in late November 2023 as well as back in 2021, found badgers, otters and water voles in the vicinity, alongside red kites, bats and other birds.

Richard Stonehouse, Contracts Manager at Milestone Infrastructure, said: “Milestone is proud to be working alongside Oxfordshire County Council to help protect wildlife and provide a new wetland habitat. We understand the impact that road improvement works can have but our aim is to improve the overall local biodiversity.

“That’s why we have carefully designed and created the mammal culverts and otter tunnel, and we hope that the new wetland habitat will be enjoyed by local residents and wildlife alike.”

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After smoking for thirty years on and off, it was a health scare that motivated Witney-based husband and wife Andrew and Mary to finally quit for good.

Thanks to Oxfordshire County Council’s Stop for Life service, they have successfully ditched the habit and are now encouraging other smokers to contact the service to and follow suit.

 Andrew, 61, ditched his 20 a day habit for good a few months ago after taking up cigarettes aged 20.

“Although I’d tried to quit a few times, I first started smoking when I was young and had been smoking for about 30 years.

“When I started, it was just the done thing, you’d go to the pub and smoke, so I jumped on the bandwagon.”

Mary, 60, had managed to quit when she became pregnant, having taken up the habit at 18, but had since reverted to smoking 10 cigarettes a day once more.

“I first started when I was a teenager as a bit of an act of rebellion but quit successfully when I fell pregnant.

“I took up smoking though when a close friend of mine moved away, I found the smell of cigarettes brought me comfort and reminded me of them.”

The COVID-19 pandemic shone a light on the impact smoking was having on Andrew’s health, and provided them with the catalyst to quit.

Andrew explained: “I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well, so when I developed COVID, I got it quite badly and ended up in hospital in a coma. I know smoking was definitely a contributing factor to this.”

“A tobacco dependency advisor from the Here for Health team visited me while I was in hospital, who recommended that I quit smoking. She offered me an inhalator, and nicotine replacement therapy for while I was in hospital.”

Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Here for Health team offers a free health and wellbeing support service for patients, staff and visitors, including smoking cessation and works closely with the Stop for Life service.

When Andrew was discharged, the couple made the decision to contact Stop for Life to quit together.

On her decision to join Andrew, Mary said: “I wanted to quit with Andrew for moral support. The last thing I wanted was to be smoking around him, making things harder for him.”

They were put in touch with Karen Boardman from the Stop for Life team, who provided them with support and aids to help them quit together, using nicotine pouches and sprays to help.

“The service was amazing. We were never once made to feel bad if something didn’t go to plan, it was totally positive.

“Karen helped us and felt like a friend. She was always there for us when we needed to talk to her – going that extra mile really made a difference.”

Now off the cigarettes for a number of months, Andrew and Mary are already noticing a real impact on their lives.

While Andrew still has his underlying health issues, he’s found he is breathing better – Mary has noticed he breathes better in his sleep too. He’s also financially better off and has noticed an improved sense of smell and taste.

“My sense of smell and taste has changed too,” said Mary in agreement. “I used to drink a lot of tea and coffee, and now I can’t stand the stuff!”

Oxfordshire County Council’s stop smoking service, Stop for Life Oxon, has already helped thousands of people across Oxfordshire quit smoking using tools like vapes and other nicotine replacement therapies.

Free support is available to all smokers in Oxfordshire and can include one to one coaching, a free rechargeable vape kit and or nicotine replacement therapy for up to 12 weeks.

Andrew added: “Of course, you still need willpower to want to quit, but when you do, get in touch with Stop for Life, they’re brilliant. It’s all free, they’ll provide you with what you need.”

Councillor Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “It’s lovely to hear from people who have successfully quit smoking. I’m so pleased for Andrew and Mary, and hope that their story inspires others to contact Stop for Life. 

“We’ve added more capacity to Oxfordshire’s stop smoking services and more than 1,000 people quit with their support in the last year. It’s never too late to stop smoking, and it really is possible to start to undo the effects of smoking, no matter your age.

"That said, we know how daunting it can be for people to give up smoking. Our Stop for Life Oxon service provides free support, which is proven to help anybody who wants to quit smoking in Oxfordshire. If you're interested, please do consider giving the service a try.”

Emma Hagues, Here for Health Service Development Manager at Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is brilliant news, and a huge well done to Andrew and Mary.

“We’re really pleased to hear that the support from our team was helpful – we are on-hand to help anyone in our hospitals whether that’s patients, visitors, or staff.  You are three times more likely to stop smoking with expert advice – we are here to help you take that first step and support you along the way.

“This story highlights the importance of an in-hospital tobacco dependency service to increase the number of patients engaging in treatment for smoking – and successfully quitting.”

Ian Hiscock, Service Manager at Stop for Life Oxon, said: “What Mary and Andrew have achieved is life changing, and we want to support as many people as possible to take up the offer of free expert support to change their and their loved ones lives for the better.”

Residents can find out more about the support on offer to help quit smoking for good by visiting the Stop for Life Oxon website, or phoning 0800 122 3790.

More information about the Here for Health smoking cessation service is on Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s website.

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Tellmi, a mental health app that delivers digital pre-moderated peer support, has been commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council to help improve outcomes for young people across the county.

It provides young people in Oxfordshire with 365-day access to a space where they can discuss their feelings anonymously, with in-house counsellors intervening to support high-risk users when needed.

They also have access to over 700 crisis specialist, and local support services through the Tellmi Directory.

Councillor Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “This app will be freely available to support all young people in secondary schools in Oxfordshire and local organisations that would like more support to help them deal with young people’s concerns about mental health and wellbeing.”

Since 2015, Oxfordshire has experienced a consistent increase in the number of school pupils with social, emotional, and mental health needs.,

According to the 2023 OxWell Student Survey, an average of 33 per cent of students in year groups seven to 13 reported serious thoughts about self-harm, and 19 per cent of secondary school students stated they often felt lonely.

Kerstyn Comley Co-Chief Executive Officer at Tellmi, said: “We look forward to working closely with schools and organisations to build trust in our new service and improve outcomes for young people. In addition to our digital service, we will be delivering outreach activities, which include outreach campaigns, school resources, workshops, and training for anyone working directly with young people.”

The app can be downloaded at Google Play or the App Store. The webapp can be accessed at Tellmi.app. To find out more visit Tellmi’s website.

More information

Tellmi is a multi-award-winning anonymous peer support app for people aged 11 and above. In 2022, a nine-month study of 876 young people which was conducted by University college London found statistically significant evidence that using the Tellmi app improved their mental health in young people. Using the app led to increased confidence and decreased feelings of loneliness. The app gave young people the tools to manage their own mental health and overall, young people using the app reported feeling better and less alone.

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Covering the medieval market town of Chipping Norton along with Hook Norton, Over Norton, the Rollrights, Salford, and Swerford, it is the 21st volume produced by the Victoria County History of Oxfordshire (VCH), in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council.

VCH is a nationally organised local history project that aspires to create detailed histories for every town and village in the county.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community & Corporate Services, said: “From the Cotswolds, Cherwell Valley and Chilterns to the City of Oxford, Oxfordshire is a stunning county with so much history. Victoria County History Oxfordshire allows us to document some of this colourful history.

“After the launch of the 20th volume two years ago, focusing on the South Oxfordshire Chilterns, I am pleased to see the launch of this latest edition on the fascinating history of Chipping Norton.

“This new book draws on four years of intensive work by the small team, working in part with local groups and combining archival research with investigation of buildings and landscape. It will certainly be both a valuable resource, and an interesting read.”

Some of the highlights of this volume include the prehistoric Rollright Stones; the abandoned motte-and-bailey castle at Swerford; deserted medieval settlements; and Chipping Norton itself. Chipping Norton was laid out above a pre-existing Norman castle and church in the mid 12th century and was later famous as the home of Bliss's tweed mill.

The book will be initially made available through public libraries and to buy.

The existing published volumes are available in Oxford’s Westgate Library, various branch libraries and Oxfordshire History Centre. They can be purchased at boydellandbrewer.com, and most can be accessed online on British History’s website.

Hook Norton Brewery hosted the launch as part of its 175th anniversary celebrations and has produced a special limited edition VCH bottle label to mark the occasion.

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Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS), the University of Oxford and Thames Valley Police (TVP) are teaming up to hold the Vision Zero safety event in Broad Street on Monday 4 November from 10am - 7pm.

Visitors will be able to explore a range of stalls offering safety advice and information, aimed at helping to protect the most vulnerable road users. Once darkness starts to fall, OFRS and TVP will carry out their ‘Be Bright Be Seen’ operations, educating cyclists putting themselves and others at risk by riding without lights.

Andy Ford, Road Safety Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “There are many reasons why cyclists and pedestrians can become involved in road collisions. However, by ensuring they have lights, and wear bright clothing, we can easily improve their visibility to other road users and reduce the risk they will be hit by drivers.”

The Be Bright Be Seen campaign stand will be open throughout the event, offering free bike lights and hi-viz clothing, while the community policing teams will be giving away free bike locks and offering bike safety and security advice, and information about the laws around e-scooters and e-bikes.

Cycling campaign group Cyclox will be there, as well as an HGV, supplied by Huws Gray, to help people to understand where blind spots occur in the cab.

There will also be innovative cycle safety systems on display, such as the FHOSS cycle lane and the Oxford Robotics Institute RobotBike which is carrying out trials in Oxford to monitor safety in overtaking cyclists, as well as information about cycle training.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Vision Zero is our ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on Oxfordshire’s roads by 2050. No person should be killed or seriously injured as the result of a road collision, whatever mode of transport they are using.

“Education is a key part of this, whether you’re a motorist, a cyclist, or a pedestrian – or all three. So, it’s great to see so many organisations coming together in Broad Street to share advice and information that could help prevent lives from being lost on our roads.”

The University of Oxford will be providing a mobile mechanic from 10am - 4pm to carry out cycle safety checks and minor repairs for all visitors on a first come first served basis. The service is free, but users will have to pay for any parts.

Dr David Prout, Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Oxford, said: “The cyclists, scooter users and pedestrians being hurt on the roads are our friends, colleagues, students and family members; every death or injury is a tragedy that could and should have been prevented.

“Our goal is streets that are truly safe for everyone, and to reach it we need the whole community to work together, from individuals and families to the councils, universities and emergency services. We hope this event makes a real difference to keeping people out of harm's way, no matter how they choose to get around Oxford.”

Sergeant Pete Neale of the Oxford Central Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Thames Valley Police, in partnership with our local agencies, is dedicated to making bike safety more accessible and promoting safer riding habits in our community.

“Officers from the Neighbourhood Team will be present at the event to educate cyclists on best practices for safe riding. Additionally, we’ll be offering advice and providing security equipment to help protect bikes and reduce the risk of theft.”

The Broad Street event comes shortly after the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, published a road safety strategy to reduce deaths on the roads in the region, including Oxfordshire.

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It comes as a shop in Banbury, where smuggled shisha tobacco and excess capacity vapes were seized, has had its licence to sell alcohol revoked.

Trading standards applied to review the premises’ licence of Banbury Express Food & Wine, 179 Warwick Road, Banbury at a special Cherwell District Council licensing sub-committee hearing on 10 October.

It came after a test purchase of shisha tobacco was made back in April, with the product being sold for nearly £10 less than the rate of duty. The labelling also contained none of the required health warnings and made a prohibited reference to a taste or smell. 

Shisha, nicotine pouches and vapes were seized in a follow-up visit in July. The unlawful vapes contained five times more than the maximum capacity of nicotine-containing liquid allowed.

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety for Oxfordshire County Council said: “The premises’ licence was the subject of a review because previous advice had not been heeded. Our officers try to work with businesses and provide detailed advice to help them comply with the law but when that is ignored, it’s important that the appropriate action is taken to protect the public and other businesses that are trading lawfully.”

Cherwell District Council’s licensing sub-committee heard that trading standards had identified similar issues in 2021. The business had been given extensive verbal and written advice, which had not been followed.

Councillor Rob Parkinson, Cherwell District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities, said: “It’s crucial that businesses selling alcohol follow the law. The licensing system is a powerful tool for helping prevent crime and disorder and Cherwell District Council is committed to ensuring premises are not selling products that pose a risk to public safety.”

Anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco or vapes should call 0300 999 6 999 or report it anonymously online at stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk

More information

Any person who made representations at the hearing has the right to appeal the decision by giving notice to the magistrates’ court within a period of 21 days beginning with the day upon which written notification of the determination was given, which was 14 October. 

 The decision to revoke the premises licence does not take effect until the appeal period has expired.

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Here in Oxfordshire, we’ve been watching the rise of popularity of nicotine pouches closely and with growing concern. As a result, we are already expanding our work on tackling the supply and perception of illegal tobacco and vapes to cover protecting our residents from non-compliant nicotine pouches and other similar products.

So far, much of the work by councils have been focused on illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco. Oxfordshire County Council has been keen to go further and seek to prevent the sale of non-compliant nicotine pouches as well.

Unlike similar tobacco pouches, commonly known as snus, nicotine pouches are a legal product. However, both on the high street and online, we are seeing a significant growth in illegal versions being sold locally and nationally – with incorrect labelling and product claims, and a lack of important safety information.

With limited regulatory controls covering these products, including no legal age restriction, they are often packaged in a child appealing way, referring to attractive features such as a range of flavours.

It is suspected that much of the growth in interest in these products, comes from social media ‘advertising’ and from influencers of young people.

A recent study commissioned by the Professional Footballers Association found that almost one in five male professional footballers are regularly using nicotine pouches and nearly half would like to quit.

In 2020, 34 percent of British adults had heard of them. By 2022 awareness had increased to 44 percent. The proportion of adults who had ever tried nicotine pouches was also significantly higher in 2022 (3.9 per cent) than in 2020 (2.7 per cent).

Nicotine pouches are also now being commonly sold in youth-centric settings like music festivals and, unsurprisingly, the use is increasing most among the younger demographic.

Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are a legal product, whereas tobacco pouches have been prohibited in the UK and most of Europe for many years. But some other  smokeless tobacco products such as gutka or paan masala are legal and are popular within Asian communities in the UK.

However, smokeless tobacco products (including snus) are often substantially cheaper than cigarettes, so prove an attractive alternative – regardless of their legal status.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team have been aware of this and are already taking significant action to tackle the sale of illegal products and, crucially, non-compliant tobacco-free nicotine pouches.

As part of the ongoing work of seizing illegal disposal vapes and other tobacco products, the team have expanded their work to include nicotine pouches.

Our work in this area is in its infancy, compared to illegal tobacco and vapes, but we have already seized 564-unit packs so far and that will undoubtedly rise as we continue to develop a better understanding of nicotine pouches, how and where they are sold, distribution chains and points of importation - and as the product becomes more popular.

The nicotine pouches we are seizing are non-compliant because they are often not labelled in English or do not comply with important safety labelling requirements. 

Samples sent for testing have also shown erratic nicotine contents of pouches from the same unit pack and nicotine claims on the packaging that are wildly different from their actual content – prompting concerns around a lack of quality control and responsibility by producers.

These non-compliant products often have far greater nicotine content, and the concern is that, given these products are not currently age-restricted, a child may be able to purchase them, not be able to follow the instructions for use because they are not in English or are just missing entirely and potentially ingest large amounts of nicotine.

Many of the non-compliant products seized have been alongside illegal tobacco and other nicotine products, with sellers attempting to avoid detection via elaborate ‘hides’ and hidden storage locations.

Although in most cases we would look to work with retailers around non-compliant products, providing advice and removing items from sale, due to the seriousness of this situation, we already have two criminal investigations underway that involve the sale of nicotine pouches – in these cases they have been seized alongside illegal tobacco, shisha and vapes.

Like vapes, it’s evident that nicotine pouches are becoming more popular in the UK, particularly with the younger demographic. So, it’s our duty to make sure that the products being sold adhere to current legal standards and it is for lawmakers to consider what new regulations and legal powers might be necessary.

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Oxfordshire County Council is awarding the grants, ranging from £2,730 to £21,000, to fund drivers, operating costs, recruiting and training volunteers and promotion.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Oxfordshire’s community transport sector is a lifeline to many people. The grants will make a big difference to all nine organisations and help them to continue the fantastic work they are doing.”

The recipients, who will receive their grants over two years to support continuation of their schemes are the Volunteer Driver Service, covering north Oxfordshire; OurBus Bartons; Vale Community Impact; Cholsey Volunteers; West Oxfordshire’s Volunteer Link-Up; Didcot Volunteer Drivers; Yarnton Care Committee; Wallingford Volunteer Drivers; and Weston-on-the-Green Parish Council.

OurBus Bartons, which serves the Bartons and its surrounding areas, received £20,000 to help promote its services, including its new electric vehicles, which were paid for by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Richard Brown, Chair of Trustees of OurBus Bartons, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant as it will allow us to maximise the way in which we will use our new electric buses as they settle into service.

“We are one of the first community transport operators to use electric buses on timetabled services. We won a national UK Bus Award for our innovative approach working with our community.

“These buses are supporting our services from Middle Barton to surrounding towns, our commuter services to Heyford Station and to Steeple Aston, to connect to the Stagecoach services to Oxford and Banbury. The difference in the quality of the ride and the level of sound is appreciated by all our passengers.” 

Community transport is part of the voluntary sector and plays a key role in filling gaps in service where public transport is not available. It helps provide safe, accessible, cost-effective, flexible transport run by the community for the community in rural and urban areas.

Community transport can include car clubs, community minibuses, dial-a-ride, lift shares, taxi shares and voluntary car schemes.

Some groups offer services just for their members, while others are open to the public. They can take disabled people to work, children to school, sick people to healthcare and older people to the shops. Some run local bus routes and provide transport for a wide range of clubs and other groups.

The council supports the development of not for profit community transport groups and services.

Small start-up grants to help groups in their development are available, while the council can also help with the cost of training volunteers as minibus and passenger assistants.

More information is available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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This year, 69 submissions were received, with the 49 that have been shortlisted on display in the Garden Gallery at the Oxfordshire County Council run Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock.

The exhibition included prizes for artworks that most effectively depicted the theme of people. First and second prizes were awarded by the two guest judges, Woodstock Councillor Andy Graham, Danielle Hoevenaars, Head of Collections and Registrar at Woodstock Art Gallery in Canada, and artist, Tiffany Black.

There is also an award category “People’s choice” which allows visitors to vote for their own personal favourite.

Jemma Davey, Museum Service Manager at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Residents of all ages have contributed a piece to our exhibition.

“The result is a diverse collection of pieces that depict human beings from all different walks of life. Many different mediums are used from textiles to ink, and sculpture to photography. All are to be found in this exhibition that explores the many representations of people.

“It was also great to involve the Head of Collections from our namesake Woodstock Art Gallery in Canada in the judging!

“I would really encourage people to drop by before 30 October to have a look for themselves and vote for their own favourite. 

First prize was won by Peter Ross with his entry “Emma Groves, Belfast 1978”, which focuses on a victim of the troubles in Northern Ireland.

Peter said: “I was surprised and delighted to have won a prize in the Oxfordshire Open Art Exhibition at the Museum in Woodstock. Especially as there were so many other interesting works with such a variety of ideas and approaches. Thank you very much to the judges”

Danielle Hoevenaars, Guest Judge and Head of Collections and Registrar at Woodstock Art Gallery said: “Thank you to Oxfordshire Museum and to the exhibition organizers for inviting me to be a juror for the Open Art Competition.

“As a new member of the team at the Woodstock Art Gallery in Woodstock Canada, it has been a wonderful opportunity to collaborate and build upon the budding relationship between our two Woodstock’s. It has been a delight to experience the creativity of a talented roster of Oxfordshire artists and to hear the unique perspectives of my fellow jurors, in what were very engaging and enjoyable discussions.

“I would like to offer my congratulations to the award winners and to all participating artists. Every applicant has inspired me through their creativity and their generosity in sharing their work. Thank you for all you do as artists, to share your art, your passion, and your perspective with your community.”

Joint second prizes went to Princess Green with the inspirational “Bolingo”, a self-portrait of an African-British woman, and Liesa Gutgart with the piece “Concentration”.

Find out more and what’s on throughout the year by visiting The Oxfordshire Museum’s website.

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This significant funding boost from Homes England and the Department for Transport will enable the council to provide infrastructure for better bus travel and safer walking and cycling for many thousands of people who travel along the A40 between Eynsham Park and Ride and Oxford.

The council’s proposed scheme includes a new junction that will connect to the new park and ride at Eynsham, enabling it to become operational, new bus lanes, and upgraded walking and cycling facilities. These will all make a difference to the commutes of current and future residents, as well as visitors to Oxford, by opening up new travel options and making journeys safer and faster.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “We are happy to have received the support of Homes England and the Department for Transport for our plan. This investment is a crucial step towards improving the overall travel experience along the A40 in West Oxfordshire. 

“We are prioritising improvements to bus travel here, as well as walking and cycling infrastructure to help create a more sustainable, healthier and connected county. This project could really bring a step change in travel for those who live in, work in and visit West Oxfordshire and for people using the A40 between Witney, Eynsham and Oxford.”  

The proposed project is in line with the council's vision for a greener, healthier, more accessible county. Together with the park and ride site at Eynsham, the planned bus lanes and active travel facilities are expected to help support the provision of new homes in the West Oxfordshire area.  

The current scheme designs come after an extensive review of the A40 improvements programme due to continued high inflation and construction cost increases since 2020. Despite the challenge of global inflationary pressures, the council has worked with the government to secure the funding, adapting the programme's design and phasing its delivery to provide upgrades to travel in this area. Future planned phases of work can be provided when further funding has been sourced.

The funding secured for the scheme comes from the Department for Transport’s retained Local Growth Fund and Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF).  

With this funding approval in place, the county council must now prepare to apply for planning permission. Accompanying this process, the council will be planning a number of engagement opportunities for the public to review the plans in detail from November 2024.

Subject to planning permission, construction could start in early 2026 and last for two years.

More Information

The council will seek planning permission for the whole scheme between Eynsham Park and Ride and Wolvercote. Subject to permission, the scheme will then be delivered in phases according to the agreed funding. The approved funding will allow delivery of Phase 1, while future phases may be funded by other parties that the county council is currently negotiating with. 

Phase 1 of the scheme includes

• Constructing a new junction onto the A40 to bring the Eynsham park and ride into use
• A bus lane eastbound between the new Eynsham park and ride and Cassington Junction, a bus lane eastbound from Duke’s Cut Bridge to tie-into the existing Oxford North Junction bus lane and a westbound bus lane at Cassington Junction and then up to the Eynsham park and ride, focused on the parts of the route where buses and their passengers will get the most journey time savings
• A continuous, upgraded walking and cycling path between Eynsham park and ride and Cassington Junction on the south side of the A40. An upgraded walking and cycling path on the north side of the A40 between Eynsham park and ride and Lower Road Roundabout
• Localised upgrades of the walking and cycling path on the south side of the A40 between Cassington Junction and Wolvercote  
• New signal-controlled crossings at points along the A40 corridor to make walking and cycling safer and more enjoyable.  

Last year, Oxfordshire County Council was named by the government as a responsible authority for driving nature recovery. The council is one of 48 authorities who have been funded by the government to work with local people and organisations to develop a local nature recovery strategy (LNRS).  

Comments are now being sought on Oxfordshire’s draft LNRS as part of a consultation which runs until 26 November 2024. The document, maps and online survey are available at the Let’s Talk Oxfordshire website.

Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and biodiversity – the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even bacteria – is under threat from pressures including habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, pollution, invasive species, and over-exploitation.

“A good quality environment with a range of species is important in its own right, but also offers people a lot of benefits. Healthy rivers give us clean water, high quality soil grows food well, trees and woodlands improve the quality of our air and regulate local temperatures to keep us cool, and wetlands and floodplains can store water that keeps our homes dry.

“This is why the severe loss of biodiversity in the UK is so alarming, because it will negatively impact us all. Oxfordshire is home to a rich and diverse natural environment, with ancient woodlands, chalk grasslands, wetlands and rivers. But it  is not immune to this threat and without positive action, we will see our ecosystems decline and possibly disintegrate.”  

The LNRS aims to address the loss of biodiversity by working with people and organisations across Oxfordshire to agree a written list of the priorities and actions to support biodiversity. It will also map some of the actions that could support biodiversity onto an online map of the county to help people understand where there are particularly important locations to deliver some work to improve or create habitats to support wildlife.  

The government expects partners in the county to focus future funding opportunities towards achieving these key local biodiversity priorities.   

As habitats are improved, restored, created and connected to benefit biodiversity, they also offer a great range of wider benefits that underpin the health and wellbeing of people in Oxfordshire.

By improving the county’s natural habitats, Oxfordshire can expect cleaner air and water, more carbon to be stored, flood impacts to be reduced, and a healthier environment for future generations.  

Cllr Sudbury added: “We want to hear from a wide range of people and organisations across Oxfordshire as these views will help us to refine and improve the LNRS, to ensure that it reflects the local priorities and opportunities for recovering nature’s biodiversity in the county.”  

LNRS project manager Chloe Edwards said: “You don’t have to be a wildlife expert to give your views. We want to hear from everyone to see if you agree that we’ve got the priorities and actions right for Oxfordshire’s habitats and wildlife.

“This will help the LNRS to focus the recommendations on which habitats to improve and create in Oxfordshire to create a shared vision that could make a significant difference towards recovering biodiversity if people and organisations are supported to deliver those habitat actions within the next 10 years. This will have great benefits for Oxfordshire’s future generations. 

“Responses to this consultation will provide the LNRS team with more information to help prepare and publish the final strategy including opportunities, benefits and measures for nature recovery in Oxfordshire.” 

The LNRS is due to be published in spring 2025. The strategy is expected to provide a framework that people and organisations across Oxfordshire can start using to work together and focus future nature recovery work across Oxfordshire. 

The LNRS development process is led by Oxfordshire County Council in partnership with local organisations including the Oxfordshire Local Nature Partnership, the district and city councils, Natural England, the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Wild Oxfordshire, the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, the University of Oxford, Community Action Groups (CAG) Oxfordshire and many more.  

Camilla Burrow, Chief Executive of Wild Oxfordshire urged parish and town councils to take part in the consultation, adding: “Oxfordshire’s draft LNRS highlights the priority species and habitats that may need to be included in Biodiversity Action Plans which parish and town councils are making. District councils and Oxford City Council are expected to include and refer to the LNRS priorities in their Local Plans.” 

Katherine Chesson, Director of Community Action Groups Oxfordshire, said: “Dozens of community groups across Oxfordshire are already working to improve habitats for nature’s recovery by creating new ponds, planting hedgerows and orchards, and making wildflower areas in urban environments. This new LNRS for Oxfordshire will give a framework to guide these groups to create more places where people can connect with nature.” 

Estelle Bailey, Chief Executive of the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, which facilitates groups working to improve wildlife habitats and manages 26 nature reserves in Oxfordshire, said: “People’s comments on the draft LNRS priorities will help us to identify the key opportunities and locations to make more spaces for nature. Linking up and creating more habitats in the countryside beyond our reserves is vital for nature recovery.” 

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More than 100 community action groups (CAG Oxfordshire) and Oxfordshire County Council have scooped a national award for their joint efforts to improve recycling and reduce waste.

They won the partnership category at the 2024 Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee awards on 10 October.

The award recognises the work of the partnership, which has been going strong for over 20 years. It supports grassroots efforts to reduce, reuse and repair across Oxfordshire communities, and diverted around 2,000 tonnes of material from disposal in 2023/24.

Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “It’s wonderful to see the strong partnership between Oxfordshire County Council and CAG Oxfordshire recognised at these national awards.

“Community groups play a crucial role in creating the social cohesion that is central to the resilience of societies when they are subject to sudden unpredictable shocks, like the pandemic, or increasingly extreme weather events. That's one of the reasons we doubled our funding support to the CAGs a year ago. 

“We are delighted to support local communities to act on the environmental issues that matter to them. We would like to thank the 112 groups across the county for doubling their impact over the last year, holding 8,800 events, putting true sustainability and the circular economy into real world action and making a positive impact on the environment and society.”

Katherine Chesson, Director of CAG Oxfordshire, said: “We are proud of our ongoing partnership with Oxfordshire County Council as we've seen the network grow and flourish over that time.

“The partnership has allowed us to support the amazing volunteers and community champions advancing important environmental and social initiatives in every corner of the county. This award is as much a recognition of their efforts as it is our partnership.”

In 2023/24 the CAG network delivered near 9,000 events and activities thanks to the support of 220,000 volunteer hours – in both cases, double the impact of the previous year.

These activities resulted in approximately 1,654 tonnes of non-food waste being reused and repaired. Another 678 tonnes of food was diverted from waste to be redistributed, cooked, eaten or processed, preventing nearly 1,695 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Events and activities have included:

• A riverbank clean-up which collected over 100kg of plastic.
• Over Christmas, one community fridge redistributed more than 14 tonnes of surplus food to families in need.
• Cooking classes supported people to eat and buy more sustainably, exploring food miles, how to eat on a budget, and how to cook using surplus ingredients.
• Five ‘libraries of things’ and swap shops, which reused over three tonnes of products.
• Over 260 repair cafes.
• Refill shops and pop-ups helping to eliminate waste, including repairing more than 2,000 bikes.

The partnership enables the council to support local communities to tackle the issues that impact them. The enthusiasm of local communities championing the projects they have identified and developed helps to ensure their success, widen the impact and, in many cases, helps the initiatives grow.

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The monthly event, next taking place on 17 October from 6pm, provides a free opportunity for individuals to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share knowledge, experience and ideas, and grow their businesses.

The sessions are organised by the council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) and each event includes one or two business presentations, a question and answer period, and ample networking time.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community & Corporate Services, said: “What our award-winning BIPC has achieved in such a short period of time has been astounding. Over 1,500 people have already been supported with their start-ups and their ideas, and the startup huddle is just one of a range of ways that people can benefit.

“Many of the services offered are free of charge, including this one. By providing free resources and support, we can help people in Oxfordshire turn their dreams into reality and help their businesses thrive.”

Located in the Oxford Central Library at Westgate, the centre provides a range of services, resources and activities for start-ups. Individuals can benefit from one-on-one support or attend workshops designed to help develop their business ideas.

Its success was recognised by the national Libraries Connected Awards back in June 2023, winning the children’s award for its work engaging hundreds of new youth participants aged eight to 25 in enterprising activities.

The centre is part of the British Library's National Network of Business & Intellectual Property Centres, which aim to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

For more information on the BIPC, visit the centre on the second floor of Oxfordshire County Library or go online at oxfordshire.gov.uk/bipc.

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The archaeological investigations were undertaken of behalf of Oxfordshire County Council in preparation for the new A34 interchange at Lodge Hill.  Discoveries included deeply buried sediments from the area’s ancient river systems dating back to the Middle Pleistocene period and some flint tools, reflecting early human presence from this era.

Experts from Oxford Archaeology, commissioned by the councils’ contractor, Balfour Beatty, dug 16 trial trenches, 12 test pits and two boreholes. The work was part of a planning condition to explore any potential archaeological remains and any ancient sediments that would be affected by the new interchange. 

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: Archaeological investigations like this are an important part of the process of delivering construction schemes. They help us identify and understand past features and residents of the area and record them for future generations. 

“Oxfordshire has a fascinating history – not just its people, but its geology too. These remains offer a glimpse into the ancient ecosystems that existed here during the interglacial periods.”

 Excavations found evidence of the Lodge Hill Channel, an ancient river system that crosses the site in a southwest to northeast direction. This channel, which is buried beneath a younger layer of gravel, has silty sediments up to 5m deep in places, with remains of ancient fossil material such as snail shells, fish bones and plant matter in its deeper parts. A piece of a Palaeolithic flint handaxe was also found from deposits that directly overlap the ancient channel fill.   

The channel deposits at Lodge Hill are probably part of the same river system as similar deposits found nearby, also in north Abingdon, where Sugworth Lane crosses the A34. The Sugworth Lane deposits have been recognised as of national significance for their fossil faunal remains, which contains an extinct species of vole.

Although no major archaeological remains were identified in the trenches, a few flint artefacts were also found that reflect later prehistoric human activity at the site. Three worked flints were found, probably from the Neolithic to Bronze Age periods.  

The archaeological evaluation also revealed a few undated features, including two small pits, a linear ditch, and a series of postholes, likely of post-medieval or modern origin, along with quantities of Roman pottery and medieval tile fragments. 

Carl Champness, Project Manager for Oxford Archaeology said: “The discovery of a rare lower-middle age handaxe and the interglacial channel deposits at Lodge Hill dating between 600,000-500,000 years ago may provide new insights into a lost landscape. This is only the start of the story, and we hope planned further investigation and detailed analysis of these remains, will help enhance our understanding of the early occupation of Britain.” 

Francis Wenban-Smith of University of Southampton, Palaeolithic specialist for Oxford Archaeology, said: “These are very exciting finds. Artefactual evidence of this period is exceptionally rare in the Upper Thames landscape north of the Goring Gap. The presence of flint tools gives an insight into the mobility of these ancient humans, since flint raw material would not have been available at the site. The human species involved was probably Homo heidelbergensis, who were the ancestor of the Neanderthals, and who periodically occupied Britain in warmer climatic episodes between c. 800,000 and 400,000 years ago.” 

Image provided courtesy of Oxford Archaeology

Image 1 shows the Lower/Middle Palaeolithic handaxe identified in the North drift gravel deposits in Test Pit 21 

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The county has a 57.2 per cent recycling and composting rate, making Oxfordshire residents the best in England for 10 years in a row.

However, to continue to tackle the climate emergency, Oxfordshire County Council is calling on people to do every little bit they can to increase that figure as around half of the average rubbish bin is made up of items that could have been recycled.

The theme of this year’s Recycle Week, which runs from 14 - 20 October, is ‘Rescue Me, Recycle’. The aim is to highlight common types of recyclable waste that residents often don’t recycle and ask them to rescue at least one of these items from their rubbish bin. These could include toilet roll tubes and empty aerosols.

Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “Oxfordshire residents are already great at recycling, but there is always room for improvement when it comes to finding the best possible option for an item we no longer need.

“With busy lives and so many different types of items, packaging and materials, we know there are times when householders can be unsure if something is recyclable or not. But if everyone can rescue at least one more recyclable item from general waste, it will make a big difference across the county.”

Vicky Beechey, Oxfordshire Resources and Waste Partnership Manager, said: “Oxfordshire’s councils work really hard to make sure that our waste is recycled and reused as much as possible, but we need your help.

“Why not take one more look at what you’re about to throw away to check if anything else could be rescued and put into the recycling – this could be your empty shampoo bottle, the cardboard toilet roll tube or the empty aerosol can. More of the right stuff in the right bin is better for the planet and for all of us.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s online Waste Wizard search tool can help people put the right items in the right bin. Available on the council’s website, residents can type in their postcode and the item they no longer need to find out where it could be repaired or donated, or which kerbside bin or recycling centre skip it can go in.

More advice and information about reducing the amount of waste produced can be found through Oxfordshire Recycles, which provides updates through different channels including Facebook and X/Twitter.

The partnership, which is made up of the county and district councils, works together to improve Oxfordshire’s recycling performance.

To encourage younger people to get involved in Recycle Week, Oxfordshire County Council is running a design activity and prize draw for residents. To take part, entrants need to design a recycling superhero character to rescue recyclable items from the rubbish bin.

People can enter by sending their design before midnight on 20 October 2024.

Fifty entrants who submit a design will be selected at random to receive an Oxfordshire Reuses aluminium water bottle and some other waste reducing goodies.

Designs submitted may also be used in some social media posts during Recycle Week to help inspire others to recycle.

Entrants can submit their picture by direct message to @OxfordshireRecycles on Facebook, @OxonRecycles on X/Twitter, or email their entry to waste.management@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Entries should include the words ‘Design a recycling superhero’ in the message or subject and must include the entrant’s name and address. Under 16s should ask a parent or guardian to enter for them.

More details about how to enter, including terms and conditions, are available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Recycle Week is organised by Recycle Now, part of international climate action charity WRAP, and is now in its 21^st year.

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The UK’s largest digital inclusion campaign, Get Online Week, aims to help tens of thousands of people get online in just one week.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community & Corporate Services, said: “Get Online Week provides valuable assistance and support to individuals of all ages, helping them build confidence in using the internet. With many council and essential services now available online, these events offer a fantastic opportunity to learn digital skills in a welcoming environment.

“Whether it’s using banking apps, booking appointments through the NHS app, or accessing eBooks and newspapers with a county council library membership, enhancing digital skills can significantly improve residents’ lives.

“It doesn’t matter what your level of knowledge and experience with the digital world is, there is something to help everyone.”

To celebrate this campaign and digital inclusion as a whole, Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries and community groups have organised events to help people learn more about the online world:

14 October
Abingdon Library from 10am
Drop-in session to help with banking, NHS and travel apps.

15 October
Aston Tirrold Village Hall from 10am
Help, advice and guidance for help using online services desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

16 October
Witney Library from 10am
Supporting people to use the Oxfordshire County Council library app.

17 October
Bicester Library and Carterton Libraries from 10am
eBook and audio digital drop-in session: free eBook, audio and magazine sessions to help with downloading and navigating apps.

Moreton Area Centre from 10.30am
Getting connected: learn to navigate your way in this digital world and explore the net and the endless possibilities to connect with the world using your phone or tablet.

Westgate Library, Oxford, 3pm - 4pm
New library computers, news and music streaming services: question and answer session about how to get online using new library computers, news searching and music streaming facilities.

18 October
Headington Library and Wantage Library, 2pm - 4pm
Intro to eBooks, magazines and audio: how to use eBooks and magazines. Bring a device.

There is support available throughout the year as well for those unable to make one of the Get Online Week events. Find out more about what is available by visiting Getting Oxfordshire Online’s website.

More information

Getting Oxfordshire Online was set up in 2021 by Oxfordshire Community Foundation, supported by seed funding from Our Common Good and Oxfordshire County Council. SOFEA are now the lead partner, working with Aspire and Bicester Green in the management team, supported by a network of partners.

They work in partnership with local communities to provide refurbished devices, connectivity and support to help everyone access the internet.

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Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team is warning people that rogue traders will see it as the perfect opportunity to take advantage of residents who have flood damage.

Many reputable traders will be booked up, so the advice is to be wary of traders who can arrive to start the work the following day and push for a quick agreement to use them.

Councillor Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “Our trading standards team is keen to get across the message that people shouldn’t agree to offers of building work, home repairs or maintenance that come from a cold call. 

“Don’t be afraid to say no, don’t be pressured and check with others if the work is required and what is a fair price to pay. It really is a case of: ‘If it’s out of the blue, it’s not for you!’”

People should first check whether their insurance policy includes emergency assistance support. Most insurance companies will appoint their own tradespeople to carry out the work.

Where work is not covered by insurance, it might be tempting to hire the first person who offers to fix flood damage, especially if they claim to have worked for a neighbour. However, it's strongly recommended to avoid door to door services and get quotes from reputable traders.

Rogue traders may quote low prices but will soon demand more money and very often the work they claim needs doing is completely unnecessary.

The Buy with Confidence website helps Oxfordshire residents to find local traders who have been vetted and approved by trading standards to ensure that they operate in a legal, honest and fair way.

Top tips to help avoid unscrupulous traders:

• Avoid engaging anybody who calls unannounced offering their services.
• Check references and recommendations of traders and ask to see recent examples of completed work.
• If gas and or electrical work is involved, check they have the right qualifications and registrations.
  • Find or check a Gas Safe registered engineer in the area who can fit, fix and service gas appliances through the gas safe register.
  • Check electricians by visiting elelectricalcompetentperson.co.uk  
• Prepare a detailed description of the work needed.
• Meet with several prospective tradesmen. Check they have insurance – see proof.
• If a business is on a recommendation websites, look at how they assess traders who are on their site and how they deal with complaints
• Get at least three written quotes.
• Get a written contract, which should include:
  • The identity of the trader, their address and telephone number.
  • Details of costs and a payment schedule. Never pay the total amount up front and avoid paying cash. 
  • A timeframe for the work to be completed.
  • Details of what will happen with the rubbish to ensure it won’t be fly tipped or illegally dumped.
  • The identity and qualifications of any sub-contractors.
  • Details of any cancellation requirements, if applicable.

A contract should be signed before any work start and should include the total price for all work. Be weary and ask questions about any work that increases in price mid contract. Trading standards will mediate if a dispute arises.

Any Oxfordshire resident who has concerns about cold calling or potential scams or wants some pre contract advice can contact the Citizens Advice National Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or by visiting its website citizensadvice.org.uk.

For information about flooding, including details about flood recovery, please read the county council’s flood toolkit at oxfordshirefloodtoolkit.com. 

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A new shuttle service will be provided for people affected by the re-routing of buses due to the weight restriction on Donnington Bridge Road in Oxford.

Oxfordshire County Council will use its own minibus fleet to provide the off-peak shuttle service – the 46A – from Mondays to Fridays, starting on Monday 14 October.

This will comprise four return journeys between Cowley Centre, Florence Park, Donnington Bridge and Speedwell Street in Oxford city centre to provide some connectivity for essential travel between 10.30am and 2.30pm.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “The absence of buses on Donnington Bridge Road for essential safety reasons has been a huge inconvenience for people in this area who rely on public transport, especially those who find it difficult to walk longer distances to use alternative bus services.

“Our officers have worked hard to try to alleviate some of the problems and we’re delighted to be able to unveil this shuttle service to connect passengers with the places they need to be.

“By using the council’s own vehicles when they are not in use elsewhere, we are able to reduce the costs involved, improving value for money.”

The 7.5 tonne weight limit was imposed by the county council on Donnington Bridge in August after ongoing monitoring revealed that the condition of materials in the structure required further assessment.

As a result, it was no longer possible for three bus routes – the 46, BB1A and ST1 – to operate via Weirs Lane and Donnington Bridge Road.

This lack of bus services between Iffley Road and Abingdon Road meant that direct connections to shops at Cowley Centre and medical and leisure facilities on Abingdon Road have been broken. To improve this situation, the shuttle journeys will be timed to connect to service 46 journeys at Cowley Centre.

The council’s fleet of minibuses provide transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and adult day centres but are available on weekdays between 10am and 2pm to provide this shuttle service. Timetables will be available from the usual online journey planners and at bus stops in due course.

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In Oxfordshire, more than 1,000 people quit each year with the support of Oxfordshire County Council’s stop smoking service, Stop for Life Oxon.

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “Stoptober is the perfect time to make a go of giving up cigarettes. No matter how long you’ve been smoking for, quitting is well worth it!

“Giving up smoking not only greatly benefits your physical health by making you feel fitter and reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer, but it can also improve your mental wellbeing and save you money.

“We understand the challenges people face in their journey to give up smoking. That’s why there are tools and aids to support everyone in their journey to a smoke free life. Our Stop for Life Oxon service provides free support, which is proven to help people who want to quit smoking in Oxfordshire.”

Over 60,000 adults in Oxfordshire and over five million adults in England still smoke. Smoking causes 64,000 deaths a year, making it the biggest cause of preventable illness and death.

Research shows that people who smoke and give up for a whole month are up to five times more likely to stay smoke free for good.

The benefits of quitting start almost immediately including improved stress levels, feeling fitter and better taste and smell. In the long-term, quitting smoking can help someone to live longer, reduce their risk of disease and breathing problems, and save on average of £365 a month.

Nicotine replacement included vapes are available to help individuals through Stop for Life Oxon.

Find out what support is available by visiting Stop for Life Oxon’s website, freephone 0800 122 3790 or texting STOPOXON to 6077.

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As well as the chance to reduce their energy bills ahead of winter, Oxfordshire householders have an extra incentive for downloading the Energy Saver App.

In response to the energy price cap rising from 1 October, Oxfordshire County Council is launching a new monthly prize draw for app users.

Starting in October, three lucky bill payers every month until January will win £225 – the average cost of a household’s monthly energy bill – creating 12 winners in total.

People can automatically enter the prize draws by downloading the app, connecting it to their smart meter, and logging in every month to view tips and savings.

The app, which launched in July 2024 and has been downloaded more than 1,800 times so far, is available exclusively to Oxfordshire residents. It is designed to help households save energy and reduce their bills.

Even if you don’t win, residents using the app are expected to save more than £200 annually on their energy bills.

Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “We expect everyone who signs up will be able to cut their gas and electricity consumption by at least seven per cent and save themselves money.” 

The app connects to smart meters to gather information about electricity and gas usage, providing personalised tips and insights to help users cut their energy consumption.

Tom Woolley, SMS and Metis’s Product and Strategy Director, said: “Helping people save money by reducing their energy consumption is good for the planet and your pocket.”

The app is independent of energy suppliers, ensuring there are no hidden catches. It is supported by Oxfordshire County Council in collaboration with independent energy infrastructure and solutions provider SMS and its cloud-based energy transition platform Metis. It is funded by the government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The app also offers users the opportunity to participate in trials for energy saving smart appliances like solar panels, batteries, and heat pumps.

Full terms and conditions of the prize draw can be found on the Energy Saver App’s website.

The app can be downloaded free of charge by visiting Google Play or the App Store.

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The flu vaccine is available for free to all pregnant women, children aged two to three or in primary and secondary education, anybody in a clinical risk group – such as those with diabetes, heart disease or a weakened immune system and their close contacts – people who live in care homes, carers, frontline health and social care workers, and all those over the age of 65.

Those residents in care homes for older people, all adults aged 65 or over, anybody in a clinical risk group and frontline health and social care workers, including staff working in care homes for older people, can also get a free COVID booster.

Ansaf Azhar, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director for Public Health, said: “While flu and COVID is often just an unpleasant inconvenience, they can be dangerous and even life-threatening for some people, particularly those with certain health conditions. They spread more easily in the winter when we spend more time together indoors, and so the risk of serious illness is higher.

“The vaccination programme aims to provide those who need the most protection with the help they need. Getting the vaccine not only gives you extra protection but also protects your loved ones and those you work with.

“It is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.

“And as with any respiratory infection, if you have a high temperature or feel unwell, do try to stay at home and avoid contact with others.”

Where possible, the COVID-19 and the flu vaccine will be given on the same day.

Find out more about the vaccinations and how to book an appointment by visiting nhs.uk/flujab and nhs.uk/covid-vaccine.

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The automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera will be used to fine motor vehicles making the prohibited manoeuvre.

Despite the existing restriction, many motorists are still turning left, which increases road safety risks to other vehicles and road users.

Cyclists will continue to be permitted to make this left turn.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management said: “This is an extra measure to help improve safety at The Plain for all road users, especially the most vulnerable such as pedestrians and cyclists.

“This is a very busy roundabout and the banned left turn is a road safety hazard, which increases the risks for all road users. There was a good deal of support for the installation of a camera to deter this.”

Motor vehicles will continue to be required to drive around The Plain and then take the Iffley Road exit.

Motorists who contravene the restriction will receive a £70 penalty charge notice, discounted to £35 if paid within 21 days.

The camera is being funded by the council’s Vision Zero programme, set up to reduce road safety incidents and eliminate deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions across Oxfordshire by 2050.

The decision to install the ANPR camera was made by Cllr Gant in October 2023.

Safety measures at The Plain were prompted by the death of a cyclist in March 2022, which led to improvements in November 2022 as well as loading restrictions in 2023.

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Four parish councillors are the latest recruits helping to fix problems on the county’s roads more quickly.

The Kidlington parish council volunteers received their training – and cans of spray paint to mark up defects – from Oxfordshire County Council last month to become Fix My Street ‘super users’.

They are among about 150 super users across the county trained to inspect potholes, blocked drains and damaged kerbing since the pilot scheme started in 2019. And the search is on for more.

All residents are encouraged to report road or street problems on Fix My Street, which can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s website. But super users can sometimes fast-track the process instances by ordering the defect repairs directly with our contractor.

Councillor Lesley McLean, Leader of Kidlington Parish Council, said: “Enrolling as Fix My Street super users is an ideal way of increasing community involvement in areas that will improve our village. There is huge public interest in fixing potholes and unblocking drains, and now our members can use their local knowledge and contacts to target the county council’s resources where they are needed most.

“Our residents can be reassured that the report they make on Fix My Street will be prioritised through local super users, where the criteria is met. We look forward to getting stuck in with our spray cans and doing our bit to make our roads safer.”

The super user volunteers are only expected to cover their local area on mainly residential or quieter roads, not A-roads, and only when it is safe to do so. All equipment and training is provided.

Although county council highways officers inspect their areas regularly, additional help from local people increases the number of defects that can be repaired and makes the process more efficient.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I am constantly in awe of the work that volunteers do in our county, and I am incredibly grateful for the time and effort the Fix My Street super users put in to make our highways teams aware of problems on the roads.

“Their local knowledge, enthusiasm and hard work are helping us to resolve potholes, kerbing and drainage issues more quickly and efficiently. I would like to thank them for their efforts and invite more people to join them in improving the situation on the streets where they live.”

Any residents or organisations wanting to become Fix My Street super users should email volunteercoordinationteam@Oxfordshire.gov.uk for more information.

The Fix My Street super users are among the initiatives that form part of the county council’s Oxfordshire Together (OXTOG) programme of volunteers.

Other volunteering opportunities include road sign cleaning, maintaining public rights of way, school crossing patrols, managing salt bins, providing community transport, or joining one of the county’s more than 100 community action groups.

Details about OXTOG are available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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Residents are able to review a 1905 historical survey that recorded all highways and bridges for which the county council was responsible following its establishment in 1889.  The survey was created by County Surveyor Sidney Stallard and was the first of its kind.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “The materials available at our History Centre are among the numerous resources that highlight our county's heritage. It's fascinating to witness history come alive online and see the extensive changes in Oxfordshire over time.

"As well as vast online collections, including photos and pictures, there are also extensive physical archive collections open to residents that can help to support personal research projects, from small-scale family history to significant local historical events. "

The surveyors prepared the roads and bridges survey on a set of first edition six-inch Ordnance Survey maps on 53 different sheets dating from 1874 to 1881.

In July 1904, Sidney Stallard took over from Henry Tollitt, Oxfordshire County Council’s first ever County Surveyor, and one of Stallard’s tasks was to commission this new and comprehensive survey of the county's roads and bridges.

The maps were produced at the behest of the council’s Roads and Bridges Committee.

Complementing the 1905 roads and bridges survey maps, the centre has also now published high resolution zoomable images of the complete county bridges album on Picture Oxon, the county council’s database of historical images.

This album contains colour sketches of Oxfordshire bridges, dating from 1839 to 1873 and mainly drawn by Sophia Davenport, wife of J.M. Davenport, Clerk of the Peace. The album also includes some engraved prints, photographs and plans of county bridges.

The maps are based on the historical boundaries of Oxfordshire before 1974 when places to the south of the River Thames such as Abingdon were in Berkshire.

The resource can be viewed by visiting Oxfordshire History's website. 

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More than 200 requests to reduce speed limits to 20mph in towns and villages have now been approved in Oxfordshire.

Yesterday, 25 applications were given the go ahead by Oxfordshire County Council, including ones in the towns of Banbury, Thame and Wallingford. It takes the total number of approved 20mph schemes in the county to 214 since the project began in 2022.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is an incredible landmark and I want to thank all the communities who have been in touch with us, asking to make their residential streets safer and more pleasant places.

“Throughout the delivery of this programme we have been clear about the advantages it brings. You are seven times more likely to survive if you are hit by a car driving at 20mph than if you are hit at 30mph.

“Reducing speeds in residential areas is a vital pillar of our commitment to Vision Zero – our ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions in Oxfordshire by 2050.”

The latest areas to have their applications approved by Cllr Gant at a decision-making meeting also included Appleford, Appleton with Eaton, Berinsfield, Brize Meadow, Buscot and Buscot Wick, Chadlington, Culham, Ducklington, East Hagbourne, Fernham, Freeland, Fyfield and Tubney, Horley, Kelmscott, Little Wittenham, Middleton Stoney, Northmoor, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Souldern, Sibford Gower, Tiddington and West Hendred.

Decisions on more than 30 other applications are set to be made in the future.

Unlike the approach taken in Wales, where the 30mph limit was changed by default to 20mph in built-up areas, the Oxfordshire rollout has been led by residents in the towns and villages and each scheme has been tailored to local needs.

In fact, the Welsh approach has now been revised and is much closer to Oxfordshire’s, with much greater local input from councils into whether, and how, speed limits should be changed.

To be eligible for 20mph in Oxfordshire, an application must initially be supported by each affected town or parish council and the local county councillor.

A public consultation then takes place, with opportunities for people to influence the design and the adoption of the scheme within the constraints of the approved 20mph policy and guidance.

Once the remaining schemes are implemented across the county, a period of monitoring and evaluation will take place to assess the effectiveness of the measures, and any locations where further intervention may be beneficial to ensure the outcomes of the project are achieved.

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The anticipated start date is Monday 9 September.

The first closure will be in place between the Sir Geoffrey Arthur building and Marlborough Road on the Grandpont side of the riverbank. The opposite bank on the City/Friars Wharf side and the Gasworks Pipe footbridge will be unaffected.

Following completion of the Grandpont works, a second set of closures will come into force from late October, as work takes place along the towpath from Folly Bridge south to Donnington Bridge.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This work forms part of our commitment to invest in the county’s blue-green infrastructure and it will safeguard this towpath for many years to come.

“We realise how popular this towpath is but the safety of users and workers is our priority and so we ask people to be patient and observe the closure.”

A combination of signed diversionary routes and local towpath width reductions at the work areas for both sites will be in place until the repairs are completed.

The repair work is aimed at restoring damaged stretches of towpath along the river and safeguarding the riverbank.

It will involve the use of machinery and extensive reconstruction, which is why the towpath must remain closed. For their own safety, people are asked to adhere to the signed diversions and observe obstructions along sections with width restrictions.

It is hoped that the towpath will fully reopen soon after this work is completed, which is expected to be the beginning of February 2025.

However, it is possible that the dates may have to change due to severe weather or other constraints affecting the works.

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